Title is pretty much the question. I was told by a CS rep at a major blanket manufacturer today that 12 hours is a long time for a 1680 denier, lightweight (100 gm) to midweight (220 gm) to be in the rain on a horse and that I should expect the blanket to leak if I am asking it to repel water that long without switching out. This is a $200 blanket that has a lifetime guarantee on the waterproofing.
I was pretty floored–I’ve had blankets stay water repellent for DAYS in nasty weather, keeping my horses dry when they stand outside 24/7, not using the nice shelter they have. Including blankets from this manufacturer! She made no response when I pointed this out and simply reiterated that 12+ hours was way too much to ask a turnout blanket–not sheet–to keep a horse dry.
So, COTHers, I ask you. Do you have enough blankets that you can swap out every 12 hours as needed in rain? Or do you expect your blankets to hold up to a few days of nasty weather? Or perhaps something in between? I’m trying to figure out if my expectations are truly too high, or if they’re just trying to explain away their blanket’s waterproofing failing.
I usually buy the Horseware Amigos (although the newest ones are VERY lightweight) and have never had one leak or lose its waterproofing. The one I used yesterday is 8 years old! The real waterproofing is actually in between the liner and the outer materials, not whatever waterproofing is applied to the outside the blanket. The sheets sometimes LOOK sopping wet, but the horse is dry underneath.